328 Tetraonidce. 



Dinton so lately as November 12th, 1880. Finally, Mr. Howard 

 Saunders says in 1884 : 'They are found sparingly in Wiltshire.'* 

 I am afraid, however, that we can only lay claim to the visit of 

 a very rare and accidental straggler, seen from time to time after 

 an interval of many years. 



Like the species last described, it loves to frequent forests and 

 wild uncultivated districts, where rank herbage and undrained 

 morasses proclaim the non-intervention of man; and a truly 

 grand sight it is to see the old male, or ' Black Cock,' as it is 

 generally called, in all the pride of his dark glossy plumage, now 

 appearing of jet black hue, and anon with splendid purple 

 reflections, take flight with a startling rush of wings, when dis- 

 turbed in his retreats. It is conspicuous for the outward curve 

 of the four or five outer feathers of the tail on either side, and 

 also for the bright red naked skin above the eyes. The female, 

 which goes by the name of the ' Gray Hen,' is of far less pre- 

 tentious appearance, being contented with a sombre dress of 

 brown, spotted and barred with darker shades. In general 

 habits, food, and nesting it does not vary from its congener last 

 described. Like that species, too, it also has its ' play ing- places,' 

 or stations ; and indulges in like loud singing or calling ; and 

 practises the same antics in the lek ; and wages desperate battle, 

 and otherwise comports itself as polygamous birds frequently do. 

 The word ' Grouse/ which was formerly announced by Yarrell 

 to be derived from a Persian word groos, is now shown by Pro- 

 fessor Newton, who has very carefully gone into the question,-f 

 to be in all probability derived from the old French word 

 griesche, greoche, or griais, meaning ' speckled,' and cognate with 

 griseus, ' grisly,' or ' gray.' Other names by which these birds 

 are sometimes designated are ' Black Game ' and l Heath Poults.' 

 In France it has the prolonged name of Coq de Bruyere cb queue 

 fourchue, ' Fork-tailed Heath Cock ;' and in Germany, Gabel 

 schwanziges Waldhuhn, ' Fork-tailed Wood Fowl ; but in Sweden 

 it is simply Orre. 



* Fourth edition of Tan-ell's ' British Birds/ vol. iii., p. 62. 

 t ' Encyclopaedia Britannica,' ed. 9, xi., p. 221. 



